SAP EWM: Wave Management (Configuration & Executio...

SharmaGaurav · ‎2025 Apr 08

What is SAP EWM Wave Management?

Wave Management in SAP EWM is a process that allows warehouses to group and manage picking tasks based on specific criteria such as order priority, product availability, and resource allocation. By organizing pick tasks into waves, warehouses can optimize labor resources, improve order fulfillment times, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

Key Benefits of Wave Management

Improved Efficiency: Grouping orders into waves allows for more efficient picking processes and reduces travel time within the warehouse.
Enhanced Visibility: Wave Management provides real-time visibility into order processing, allowing managers to monitor progress and make informed decisions.
Optimized Resource Allocation: By analyzing wave data, organizations can allocate labor and equipment resources more effectively.
Increased Order Accuracy: Wave picking helps reduce errors by enabling pickers to focus on a specific group of orders, minimizing distractions.

Configuration of SAP EWM Wave Management

Define Warehouse Process Type

You can create a separate warehouse process type to manage wave as I have created Warehouse Process Type “OBWA ” for this example.

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Task > Define Warehouse Process Type

Select process category “2” as we are creating this process type for stock removal.

Define Control Indicators for Determining Warehouse Process Types

Define determination rule for new created OBWA Warehouse Process Type and Control Indicator “04” for Outbound deliveries.

Determine Storage Type Search Sequence for Stock Removal

For new Warehouse Process Type OBWA, configured to determine Storage Type Search Sequence based on Stock Removal Control + Warehouse Process Type + Stock Type Search Sequence + Stock Removal Rule.

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Strategies > Determine Storage Type Search Sequence for Stock Removal

Maintain Wave Types

Create wave types according to your requirements, for this example I have created two wave types

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > General Settings > Maintain Wave Types

Maintain Wave Categories

Create wave categories according to your requirements, for this example I have created two wave categories

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > General Settings > Maintain Wave Categories

Set Automatic Wave Generation for Warehouse Process Type

Select “Auto Wave Creation” check for Warehouse Process Type OBWA

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > General Settings > Set Automatic Wave Generation for Warehouse Process Type

Define Condition Tables

Define condition table for wave configuration including the fields that you are planning to use for waves, for this example I have created table ZN81SHIP and included WME_CUSTOMER, WME_LGNUM, WME_PROCTY fields

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > Wave Template Determination >Define Condition Tables

Define Access Sequences

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > Wave Template Determination > Define Access Sequences

Define Condition Types

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > Wave Template Determination > Define Condition Types

Define Determination Procedure

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > Wave Template Determination > Define Determination Procedure

Assign Procedure to Document Type

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Issue Process > Wave Management > Wave Template Determination > Assign Procedure to Document Type

Define Condition Maintenance Group

Add new created condition type and tables in “WME” Maintenance Groups with Application “WME”, and Usage “WD”

Maintain Wave Templates

Use transaction /SCWM/WAVETMP to create Wave Template(s) using new created wave types & wave categories for Manual & Automatic waves as per your requirements.

Make sure you maintain at least below time attributes for cutoff & release time: Cutoff Time, Release Time, WaveCompletion, and Wave Calendar

Wave Determination Group Condition Maintenance

Use transaction /SCWM/WDGCM to maintain conditions for wave determination

Define Sort Rules for Warehouse Tasks

Defined Sort Rule “PIPA” and assigned Sort Fields “PATHSEQ” Sort Sequence

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Sort Rules for Warehouse Tasks

Define Filters for Warehouse Order Creation Rules

Created 3 Filters

FLT1 — Weight between 1- 10 LB for Wave Cat C1
FLT2 — Weight upto 10 LB for Wave Cat C2
FLT3 — Weight between 11- 100 kg for Wave Cat C2

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Filters for Warehouse Order Creation Rules

Define Limit Values for the Size of a Warehouse Order

Defined below limits:
LMT1 Max 1 task in one WO
LMT2 Max 5 task in one WO

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Limit Values for the Size of a Warehouse Order

Define Packing Profile for Warehouse Order Creation

Create profile(s) and assign your Sort Rule “PIPA”, and select auto HU & WT creation

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Packing Profile for Warehouse Order Creation

Define Creation Rules for Warehouse Orders

Create WOCR and link with new created Filter, Limit, Sorting and Packaging Profile

WOC1 WOCR — Outbound — 1
WOC2 WOCR — Outbound — 2
WOC3 WOCR — Outbound — 3

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Creation Rules for Warehouse Orders

Define Search Sequence of Creation Rules for Activity Areas

Created Sort Sequence for new WOCR & Activity Area T210

N810 T210 PICK 1 WOC1 WOCR — Outbound — 1
N810 T210 PICK 2 WOC2 WOCR — Outbound — 2
N810 T210 PICK 3 WOC3 WOCR — Outbound — 3

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Order > Define Search Sequence of Creation Rules for Activity Areas

Define Warehouse Process Type

Created a Warehouse Process Type “PIHU” for Picking HU

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Task > Define Warehouse Process Type

Define Warehouse Number Control

Added PIHU in Warehouse Number Control under field “Warehouse Process Type for Pick-HU WT for Current Resource” and selected Pick-HU Procedure as “0BDL”

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Cross-Process Settings > Warehouse Task > Define Control Indicators for Determining Warehouse Process Types

Assign this Control Indicator to your product

Create PackSpec

Created new PackSpec for Outbound Wave

Define Activity Areas

Created new general purpose activity area for Storage Type we rare planning to use

Assign Storage Bins to Activity Areas

Define Sort Sequence for Activity Areas

Create virtual bin for activity

Use transaction /SCWM/LS01 to create new Bin VIRTUAL_PACKBIN_01 in your storage type T210

Maintain Additional Attributes for activity area

Use transaction /SCWM/SEBA and map new Bin VIRTUAL_PACKBIN_01 to Pick Activity in Activity Area T210

Create Sales Order

Create Outbound Delivery

Verify in monitor that Wave is created according to the configurations and new outbound delivery is assigned to new created wave

Also can go to PPF actions of Outbound Delivery and check logs tab under Action Details for step by step logs

Simulate the wave release

From Monitor Outbound > Waves select wave and click Simulate Single wave release from actions button menu to review warehouse tasks and steps that will be created after it’s release

Release the Wave

You can release wave from simulate screen or from wave action toolbar button.

Once wave is released warehouse task gets created according to the configurations we made.

Monitor and Analyze Waves

Monitoring wave performance is crucial for ongoing optimization. SAP EWM provides various tools for tracking wave progress and analyzing performance metrics.

Conclusion

SAP EWM Wave Management is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance warehouse efficiency and order fulfillment accuracy. By following the steps outlined in this guide, organizations can configure and implement wave management effectively, leading to improved operational performance.

Wave Management allows businesses to adapt to changing demands and optimize their resources, ensuring that they remain competitive in today’s fast-paced environment. As companies continue to evolve and grow, mastering Wave Management in SAP EWM will be essential for achieving operational excellence and meeting customer expectations.

In summary, by leveraging the capabilities of SAP EWM Wave Management, organizations can streamline their warehouse operations, reduce costs, and ultimately deliver better service to their customers.